Tooth brush



11111111, I IIIWIL I //////l//// I 20 m 3 m m f 2 m M m NW 5 .A L w PUnited States Patent 2,962,032 'roorn BRUsH Paul Renter, 23 Park Ave.,Avene], NJ.

Filed June 17, 1958, Ser. No. 752,534

2 Claims. (Cl. 13284) The invention relates to a tooth brush and refersmore particularly to a combined tooth brush and holder which is providedwith a suitable compartment for holding a dentifrice.

. On many occasions, for example, while traveling, it is necessary to besupplied with a tooth brush and a tooth dentifrice. These items aregenerally purchased separately and require separate spaces in atravelling kit or bag. They require a substantial amount of space in amedicine cabinet, and they are so bulky that the user cannot comply withthe requirement of modern dentistry of brushing teeth after every meal.

It is an object of the present invention to provide suitable means forstoring a tooth brush as well as a tooth dentifrice within a readilytransportable and compact tubular holder.

It is another object of the present invention to provide novel means forstoring a tooth brush as well as a dentifrice within a compact tubularholder which is capable of being simultaneously used as a grippingportion for the handle portion of the tooth brush during use.

, Still another object of the present invention is to provide means forstoring a dentifrice within a tooth brush which is readily carriedwithin the confines of an appropriate tooth brush holder.

I Yet a further object of the present invention is to provide means forreleasing a dentifrice from its container disposed within a tooth brushwhich is readily carried within the confines of an appropriate toothbrush holder.

Other objects of the present invention will become apparent during thecourse of the following specification.

In the attainment of the aforesaid and other objectives, the inventiveconcept of the present invention may be realized through the provisionof a compact, transportable, tubular holder carrying a tooth brush, anda dentifrice container disposed in a cavity or handle portion of thetooth brush. The tubular holder may be conveniently adapted for use as agripping portion when frictionally engaged with the handle portion ofthe tooth brush. The tooth dentifrice container likewise may be readilyremoved from the tooth brush cavity in order to release and apply thedentifrice to the bristles.

The dentifrice of the present invention may consist of tooth paste,tooth powder or tooth soap.

The device of the present invention can be conveniently kept in medicinechests of households; it can be also carried in a pocket by schoolchildren and adults. Furthermore, it is particularly suitable forcampers, Armed Forces, scouts and travelers. A fuller understanding ofthe present invention may be had by referring to the followingdescription taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, showingby way of example preferred embodiments of the inventive idea.

In the drawing:

Figure l is a longitudinal section of the tooth brush, holder, anddentifrice container constituting an embodi- 2 ment of the presentinvention showing the unit in a stored condition.

Figure 2 is a longitudinal section of the tooth brush, and holdershowing the unit in an operative position.

t Figure 3 is a longitudinal section of the tooth dentifrice containerand cap.

Figure 4 is a longitudinal section of the tooth brush and holderconstituting another embodiment of the present invention, showing theunit in an operative position.

Figure 5 is a longitudinal section of the tooth brush, holder, anddentifrice container constituting another embodiment of the presentinvention showing the unit in a stored, transportable condition.

Figure 6 is a transverse view taken through the tubular holder along theline 6-6 of Figure 4.

Figure 7 is a longitudinal view of the dentifrice holder. v

Figure 8 is a transverse view taken through the tubular dentifricecontainer along the line 8-8 of Figure 7.

Figure 9 is a longitudinal view of the stem member.

Figure 10 is a transverse view taken through the disc along the line1010 of Figure 9.

Figure 11 is a transverse view taken through the disc along the line1111 of Figure 9.

Referring now to the drawing in greater detail, wherein likereferencenumerals indicate like parts, reference numeral 10 indicates a tubularcasing carrying a tooth brush 12, and a tooth dentifrice container 13.

The tubular casing 10 is provided with an air vent 14 at one endthereof. A knurled cap 16 carrying a threadedplug 18 serves as closuremeans for one open end of the tubular casing 10 and tooth dentifricecontainer 13. A partially recessed inner wall 20 disposed at one end 22of the casing 10 snugly accommodates the tooth brush 12.

The tooth brush 12 is provided with a plurality of bristles 24 which aresecured firmly to a backing 26. A shank portion 28 connects the backing26 with a collar portion 30. The collar portion 30 gradually widens atits base to form a cylindrical handle portion 34, inside of which is acavity 38 of sufficient dimension to conveniently house the toothdentifrice container 13. The handle portion 34 is provided with a flat,smooth outer wall 39. An inner threaded wall 36 is disposed at theclosure end of the handle portion 34.

The tooth dentifrice container 13, shown in Figure 3, is provided with acavity 42 of sufficient dimension to accommodate a considerable amountof tooth dentifrice, for example, in powder form. One end of thecontainer 13 is further provided with an inner threaded wall 44 and anouter partially threaded wall 48. The threaded plug 18 with the knurledcap 16 is removably carried by the inner threaded wall 44, while theinner threaded wall 36 is correspondingly adapted to accommodate theouter partially threaded wall 48 of the container 13. The opposite end50 of the container carries a plurality of openings 52 for releasing thedentifrice from the cavity 42 when needed. The greater portion of theouter wall 52 of the container 13 is smooth and flat, so that it iscorrespondingly engaged by the inner walls of the cavity 38 of thehandle portion 30. Likewise, the outer wall 39 is a smooth and flatsurface, so that it is frictionally carried by the evenly recessed fiatwall 20 of the casing 10.

When the dentifrice consists of tooth soap, the container 42 may beeliminated and replaced by a correspon'dingly shaped cake of tooth soap.

In operation, the user unscrews the knurled cap 16 of the unit shown inFigure 1, while simultaneously withdrawing and unscrewing the toothbrush 12 from the easing 10. After the tooth brush 12 is removed fromthe casing 10, the user proceeds to unscrew the dentifrice container 13from the cavity 38 of the brush 12. After the container 13 is removed,the handle portion 34 is firmly inserted into the recessed wall of thecasing 10. The bristles 24 are now ready for the dentifrice, and it isapplied through the openings 52 by shaking the container 13 lightly overthe bristles 24 Thebrush 12, which is readily dismantled after using, isreplaced into the cavity of the casing 10 by sliding it therein in sucha manner that the outer walls 38 are contiguously positioned against therecessed walls20. The container 13 is then firmly screwed into positionwithin the cavity 38 of the tooth brush handle portion 34; c I p Inaccordance with the second embodiment of the present invention shown inFigures 4 to 11 in the drawing, another cylindrical casing 62, having anair vent 64 disposed at one end thereof, and a partially recessed innerwall 65 at another end, is provided with a tooth brush 66 which also hasa compartment 68 similar in construction to the compartment 33 of thefirst embodiment with the exception, however, that an innercircumferential groove 69 is disposed near the end 70 of the recessedwall 65.

As illustrated in Figure 6, the circumferential groove 69 communicateswith two notches or passages 72 and 74 diametrically disposed directlyopposite each other. An outer cylindrical wall 76 is frictionallyengaged and contiguously positioned against the inner recessed wall 65of the casing 62 when the unit is dismantled and stored.

The dentifrice container 80 is provided with an opening 82 at one endthereof for releasing powder or other similar dentifrice therefrom uponthe bristles of the tooth brush 66. An inner cavity wall 84 has two sideridges 86 and 88 formed therein and which are disposed directly anddiametrically opposite each other. The two ridges 86 and 88 originatenear the circumferential. groove 69 and extend in a straight lineparallel to each other running downward and toward the base of thecontainer 80. c

Directly opposite the circumferential groove 69 disposed on the outerWall 89 of the container 80 are two guide projections 90 and 92 situateddirectly and diametrically opposite each other. The guide projections 90and 92 are of such dimension that the two passages 72 and 74 uponinsertion of the container 80 into the compartment 68 of the tooth brushhandle portion will allow them to pass therethrough and become secured,yet movable, in the circumferential groove 69.

A knurled cap 94 for closing the container 80 is provided with anaperture 95 through which a stem member 96 equipped with another smallerknurled cap 98 is inserted. The knurled cap 98, smaller in diameter thanthe knurled cap 94, is superposed to cap 94 which is of sufficientdiameter to conveniently cover the compartment of both the tooth brush66 and the casing 62 when the unit is in a closed and stored position.

As illustrated in Figure 9, the stem member 96 is equipped with amovable disc 100 and a movable, radially slotted disc 103. The disc 100is provided with two grooves 102 and 104 disposed directly anddiametrically opposite each other. The grooves 102 and 104 are movablyguided along the two side ridges 86 and 88 disposed within the innercavity wall 84 of the container 80. The disc 103 is likewise movablealong the stem member 96 and is provided with a radial slot 105. Thisslot 105 is of sufficient dimension to allow a quantity of dentifrice,such as tooth paste, to leave the container compartment and to beapplied to the bristles of the tooth brush without loss or spillage. Thelarger disc 100 permits the entire quantity of tooth dentifrice to beconstantly moved forward as the supply gradually diminishes byalternately opening and c lqjng the container compartment with theknurled cap 94 of the container 80, while simultaneously pulling thesmaller knurled cap 98 outwardly when the bulk of the dentifrice isdesired to be brought forward.

To remove the container from the compartment of the tooth brush handleportion, the guide projections and 92 are aligned with the passages 72and 74, so that a slight backward pull of the knurled cap 94 willreadily release the container 80 therefrom.

It is to be understood that the present invention is not restricted toany of the embodiments hereinabove described, but includes suchembodiments and equivalents as fall Within the scopeof the appendedclaims.

What is claimed is:

1. A combined tooth brush and tooth brush holder, comprising a casing, atooth brush removably carried in said casing, said casing having arecessed inner wall disposed at one end thereof and an air vent disposedat another end thereof, said tooth brush comprising a brush backing,bristles carried by said brush backing at one end thereof, a handleportion having acompar'tf ment at one end thereof and connected withsaidbi'nsh backing, said compartment having an inner circumferentialgroove disposed at one end of said compartment, and two grooves disposedopposite each other and coinmunicating with said circumferential groove,a dentifricecontainer removably carried by said compartnient,'and havingan opening disposed at one end of said container, said container havingtwo side ridges disposed opposite each other and carried by the innerwall thereof, and two side projections disposed opposite each other andcarried by the outer walls of said container, a knurled cap having acentral aperture therein and removably carried by said container, astern member comprising a knurled cap smaller than said first-mentionedknurled cap at one end thereof and removably carried by said centralaperture, a disc having two opposedly disposed peripheral grooves and acentral aperture and carried by said stem member, and another slotteddisc smaller than said first-mentioned disc and carried by said stemmember. c

2. in combination, a tooth brush comprising a backing, bristles carriedby said backing, a hollow cylindrical handle portion, a collar portionconnected with said handle portion and a shank portion connecting saidcollar portion with said backing, said handleportibi1 having aninner-threaded wall portioni a casing adapted to receive said toothbrush and having a recessed inner Wall adapted to be engaged by saidcollar portion when the tooth brush is within the casing, said casinghaving an open end and a closed end having an air vent formed therein,and a closure for the open end of said casing, said closure comprising acap adapted to engage said open end, a threaded plug carried by saidcap, and a dentifrice container having an inner threaded wall portionengaging the threads of said plug and an outer threaded wall portionengaging the inner threaded wall portion of said handle portion.

References Cited in the file of this pat ent UNITED STATES PATENTS793,259 Wilson June 27, 1905 965,309 MacDonald July 26, 1910 1,339,265Levitan May 4, 1920 1,505,363 Mather Aug 19, 1924 1,716,617 BrockelsbyJune 11, 1929 FOREIGN PATENTS 246,842 Switzerland Oct. 16, .1947

